Indicating device



26, l930. H. scHLAlcH 3,773,755

INDICATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1928 2 shees-sheet 1 lier/nd .Mila/Ui INVENTOR Y @Maw ATroRNEYs,

` 26, 1930. H. scHLAlcH 1,773,756

INDICATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Herma/1 .Sch/afm.

' INVENTOR @MVM ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2e, 193e PATENT OFFICE HERMAN scHLAIcH, or LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW Yom:

- INDICATING DEVICE Application led December 22, 1928. Serial No. 327,785.

This invention relates to indicating devices used to inform the driver of a motor vehicle of a critical condition existin in the watercooling system of the motor. eans are provided whereby the driver of a car receives notice by an` indicating device, which may be mounted on the dashboard of the car or near the drivers seat when conditions dangerous to further operation occur. It has particular reference to indicating devices in which the signal device is actuated by pressure in the cooling system caused by the generation of steam therein, which occurs when the cooling liquid boils.

With an indicator of the type referred to, the driver receives a signal when the danger point is reached regardless of the fact that the temperature at which boiling occurs varies in accordance with the cooling liquid used, and the altitude at which the vehicle is operated.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon indicators of this type as disclosed in my pending applications: Serial No. 478,430, tiled June 17, 1921, for Indicating device; Serial No. 72,669, filed December 2, 1925, for Warning instrument for vehicle motors; SerialNo. 232,914, tiled November 12, 1927, for Warnin instrument for vehicle motors; and Serial o. 253,946, filed February 13, 1928, for Combined temperature and danger indicating means.

It is desirable in order that an accurate and reliable indication of the occurrence of boiling may be secured that the indicator be actuated only in response to steam'pressure occurring in the cooling system, and that provision be made for avoiding actuation of the pressure sensitive device by the dynamic force of the water circulating in the cooling system, so that false indications will not be given.

Such a result can be obtained by mounting the pressure sensitive device to be exposed only to 'the pressure of the air or vapor in 1e air space at the top of the radiator. If the instrument is to be of the .distance type, however, such an arrangement involves the necessity either of running wires tothe top of theradiato'r or of running a pressure tube from vsome accessible point of the cooling system up into the air space. Either of theseconstructions involves labor and material expense which it is the object of the present invention to avoid.

In accordance with the present invention, the pressure sensitive device may be provided with a mouth piece adapted to penetrate a conduit 'of the cooling system underneath the hood, and to be immersed in the cooling liquid itself. The mouth piece is so constructed and disposed as to avoid actuation of the pressure sensitive device by the dynamic force of the water. This is accomplished in the illustrative embodiment of the invention by providingthe mouth piece with a short extension which opens in the direction of fiow of the water. With such an arrangement it is impossible for the velocity of the water to cause pressure to be exerted upon the pressure sensitive device. On the contrary, the velocity will cause some suction to be exerted. This suction is not sufiicient, however, to offset the static pressure which occurs generally throughout the cooling system when steam is formed therein, and, therefore, does not interfere with the reliability of the device for indicating the' occurrence of boiling.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram partly in section showing one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the pressure device, partly in section, along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing in more detail the means for actuating the signal indicating device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the signal actuating, or lpressure device;

Fig. 4 is across-section along lines 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram, partly in section, o the signal actuating device of this invention, mounted at a diEerent position in a cooling system.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings a water pump P (Figure 5) forces water through the cooling system of a car in the direction shown by the arrows (Figs. 1 and 5) throu h afwater jacket 1,.

hoso connection 2, ra iator 3, and back through a conduit 3 to the pum An overflow pipe 3 communicates wit the upper portion of the radiator to limit the height to which water may rise in the radiator, and this overow pipe also serves as a -vent for maintaining the pressure applied to the cooling liquid normally equal to that of the atmosphere. When steam is generatedmore rapidly than it can be conducted away by this pipe pressure builds up in the entire cooling system. Mounted on the hose connection 2 of Fig. 1 is a pressure device 4, havinga mouth iece 5 'opening in the direction of the flow o the water. An insulated conductor 7 is electrically connected to the upper section of the pressure device and to one terminal of a signal light 8 on the dashboard. The

other terminal of the signal light 8 is lconnected by a conductor 7 to the'ignition switch y 'the radiator that it is not feasible to mount 9 on the car. When the ignition switch is turned on for the operation of the engine, the light will be in series with the battery and the pressure device, and when this circuit is completed, as it is'. upon the occurrence of steam pressure' in the cooling system, the signal light 8 will be energized. The conductor 7 is connected to the upper sect-ion of the pressure device through a conductin arm 10 (Fig. 2) which terminates in a threa ed plug 11 adapted to engage an insulated, internall threaded socket 12 through one end of whic the conductor 7. passes. v The conductor `terminates in a spring inside the. socket which serves to lock the'plug and socket together-v and to assure the electrical contact. The arm 10 is mounted von athreaded member 17 to.

which it islsecured by meansof anut 13 and washer 14. `Mounted on saidr member 17 is an insulated collar15 having a circular grooveA in its periphery adapted to engage cup 16 and electrically-insulate the member 17 therefrom. Themember 17 terminates in an internally threaded'section 18 in which a con-- tact element 19`i's screwed.

The cup 16 is externally threadedto ,engageA :1 hollow conductive body member 20, with .its

.rim resting on a diaphragm 21 of electrically conducting material mounted therein. The diaphragm has' connected thereto asecond contact element 22. j The lower portion of the body member is externally threaded to engage a lower section 23 -of the 4pressure device, which is likewise hollow, and has a mouth piece 5 as heretoforedescribed. This lower section is provided with a shoulder 24 which may be forced through the hose connection 2 and secured to prevent/-leakage of water by means of a clamping .or steadying' plate 25 and a clamping nut 26. electrical connector 6 ismount'ed betweenthe plate 25 and the nut 26, and is grounded, thus placing contact member 22 1n,electrical connection with'the grounded side of the battery (not shown) On some ty of automobiles a thermostat is mounte in the cooling system to prevent or obstruct the circulation of the pooling liquid through the radiator when the liqui is below a certain temperature. It is important that the pressure device be located 1n the system between the thermostat and the intakeside of the ump. If located between the thermostat and) the discharge side of the pum the obstruct-ion to ow introduced by the t ermostat isv apt to produce so reat a back pressure of -the cooling liquid t at the pressure o erated warning devicewill be `op eratedan .will lead the operator to believe that the liquid is boiling when in fact it is not warm enough to operate th thermostat and r'mit free circulation through the radiator. he thermostat is indicated at T in Fi re 1. 0n some cars the thermostat is so c ose to the pressure responsive element between the thermostat'and the radiator. Fig. 5 shows how a device such' as has been described may be mounted in a cooling 'system of this kind to secure the desired signal without liability of a premature, and therefore deceptive signal being 'ven.

In this gure the motor construction is generally the same as that of Figure 1, with the single exception that the thermostat T is locatedimmediately adjacent the radiator, that is, the thermostat is so situated that the pressure device could not be mounted in the conduit2 without beingsituated between the outletside Vof the pump and the thermostat. It has been found, however, that where this situationf` obtains, the pressure device may be mounted in the conduit -3 between the radia tor Sand the intake side of the pump P. In this'installation, as in the installation already described, the mouthpiece 5 extends and `opens in the direction of flow Aof the water, that is',A v

toward the intake side ofthe um P.

In all other respects the motor an the instrument may be the same as those disclosed in Figures 1 to 4. Hence corresponding reference Anumerals have been applied to the various parts so that no reiteration ofthe 'de-:-

tailed description is deemed necessary.

The operation of the device when mounted in either locationdescribed is as follows:

When the cooling liquid is circulatin in the system (when the engine isrunning it' Hows past the mouthpiece 5 in such a direction mouth of the mouthpiece 5. The ldiaphragm yields to this pressure and contact is made between the contact'elements 19 and 22. This completes an electrical circuit includinfr the battery not shown), and the signal light 8, nd the ight gives the desired signal to the river.

The provision -and disposition of theY mouthpiece-5 is an important feature of this invention, since it may be submerged in the stream of li uid impelled by the pump and yet prevent t ie application of pressure to the diaphragm 2L before the danger point is reached.4 This is important Where electrical transmission of the signal is employed as illustrated herein, because it is an inexpensive construction and yet obviates the necessity of running the Wires through the radiator or outside the hood. Such necessity occurs if the instrument is mounted on the radiator cap to be acted on directly by the steam in the air space. The feature is also an important one, however, in any instrument of the distance type because it facilitates installation and shortens the connections to the instrument board, and thereby effects a substantial econom The feature has utility in conjunction with all liquid cooled motors, whether the circulation is induced by a pump or by thermosyphon action.

It Will be understood that variations may be resorted to vgithin the scope of the invention and that parts of the improvement may be used without others.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a motor having a cooling system in Which a cooling liquid circulates, a signal device, and a pressure responsive device for operating the signal, said pressure responsive device including a mout-hpiece situated Within the cooling system and extending iii the normal direction of ow of the cooling liquid. u i

2. In combination, a cooling system including a radiator, a pump, and a thermostat for obstructing fiow of cooling liquid to the radiator. and an indicating instrument including ari indicator and a pressure responsive operating device therefor, the pressure responsive device including a pressure transmitting member which is submerged in the cooling liquid beyond the thermostat from the delivery side of said pump and which has an open mouth facing in the direction of the normal iiow of the cooling liquid.

3. The combination with an internal combustion motor having a circulatory cooling system, including a Water jacket, a radiator, a conduit connecting the Water jacket and the radiator, and a pump for causing the liquid to circulate, of an indicator to Warn of dangerous operating conditions, and means for operating the indicator in response to steam pressure occurring in the cooling system, comprising a pressure responsive device and a mouth a conduit connecting the Water jacket and the radiator, and a pump for causing the liquid to circulate, of an indicator to Warn of dangerous operating conditions, and means for operating the indicator in res onse to steam pressure occurring in the coo ing sys'- tem. comprising a pressure responsive device and a mouth piece penetrating a conduit of the cooling system for submergence in the cooling liquid to transmit the pressure thereof to the pressure responsive device, said mouth piece including means for preventing application of the pump pressure to the pressure responsive device.

5. The combination With an internal combust-ion motor having a circulatory cooling system, including a Water jacket, a radiator, a conduit for conducting the cooling liquid from the radiator to the Water jacket, a second conduit for conducting the cooling liquid from the Water jacket to the radiator. av pump in the first conduit for feeding the cooling liquid to the Water jacket, and a thermostat in the second conduit for impeding the flow of cooling liquid to the radiator in accorda-nce with the thermal condition of the motor, of a Warning indicator, and means for operating said indicator, comprising a pressure responsive device, and means for transmitting pressure from the cooling liquid to said device, comprising a mouth piece mounted in the cooling system between the thermostat and the intake side of the pump, and opening in the direction of flow of the cooling liquid but not in the opposite direction, for preventing actuation of the pressure responsive device by the pump pressure.

6. The combination With an internal combustion motor having a circulatory cooling system, including a Water jacket, a radiator, a conduit for conducting the cooling liquid from the radiator to the Water acket, a second conduit for conducting the cooling liquid from the Water jacket to the radiator, a pump in the first conduit for feeding the cooling liquid to the Water jacket, and a thermostat in the second conduit for impeding the flow of cooling liquid to the radiator in accordance With the thermal condition of the motor, of a Warning indicator, and means for-operating said indicator, comprising a pressure responsive device, and means for transmitting pressure from the cooling liquid to said device, comprising a mouth piece mounted in the first mentioned conduit at l ward thepump -gerous operating conditions, and means the intake side of the pump, and opening to 7. The combination v-vithan internal combustion motor having a circulatory cooling system, including a water jacket, a radiator, and conduits connecting the radiator, of an indicator to warn of danfor , operating the indicator inresponse to steam in system for communie for transmlttln `of the motor, of a Warning pressure occurring in the cooling system, coma Y mouth piece penetrating a conduit of the oooll y prising a pressure responsive dev1ce and in the direction of flow of the coolin said device, said mouth piece ope ing only` l n? liquid p whereby false indications due to the ynamic pressure of the-cooling liquidareavoi'ded.

8; The combination with an internal' com'- bustionl motor having a circulatory cooling system, including a Water jacket, a' radiator, a conduit 'for conducting` the coolingfliquid from the radiator-to the water jacket, a sec# ond conduit for conducting the cooling liquidfrom the water jacket to a thermostat in the second conduit Vfor impeding the flow of cooling liquid to the radiator in accordance means for4 operating said in ing a pressure responsivedevice, and means liquid to said evice, Acomprising a` mouti piece submerged in the: cooling lqiuid at the opposite side of the thermostat from the'water jacket and opening in the direction in whichthe cooling liquid iiows. V

In testimony whereof 'I have aiixed m signature to this specification.

j HERMAN SCHLAICH.

the water jacket and` ating pressure to i the radiator, and

with the thermal condition indicator, and icator, compispressure from the ooolinw 

